RLymYC Youth Week 2021

RLymYC Youth Week 2021

by Kate Hutchinson 9 Sep 20:56 AEST 23-27 August 2021

With over 144 children entered in four fleets, RLymYC Youth Week 2021, sponsored by Walhampton, was a huge success both on and off the water.

Throughout the week sunny, light conditions prevailed, which enabled the race officers to get in a minimum of three races per day per fleet. Competition was fierce in the RS Feva fleet, Race Officer Malcolm McKeags says, “Running racing for these young sailors is a privilege. They are invariably polite and courteous. The good ones are already very good – but the real joy is to see the not-so-good get better with every race and with every day.”

Race Officer Roy Froud comments on the Silver Fleet ‘Joanna MacAlister and Raffy Seddon battled until the last race in the RS Tera fleet with Joanna MacAlister eventually winning out. A similar battle in the Optimist fleet saw Isla Hutchinson and Ruby Coster engaged in close racing throughout the regatta with Ruby Coster taking the win after 16 races.

It was brilliant to see the improvements made throughout both fleets with all the sailors closing the gap to the leading boats as the week progressed.’

Peter Scholfield, who was RO for the LR Scow Fleet, set a variety of courses through the lakes which enabled children to enjoy swallows & amazon adventures. The RO saw much improvement throughout the fleet with the overall winners Abby Hire & Maddie Wharmby.

Bronze Fleet Race Coaches, Tim Hire and Kate Wharmby gave the beginner sailors a fun introduction to racing and tides. “For Bronze Fleet this year, we took advantage of the sunny sailing conditions to have as much fun as possible. It was great to see each sailor smiling as they grew in their ability and confidence on the water. A huge thank you to all the volunteers that allowed Bronze Fleet to run so smoothly.”

The competition didn’t stop ashore as both parents and children battled it out constructing boats out of tin foil for the first ever Gutter Boat championship with Freddie Erdbeer winning by a whisker. More fun was to be had with giant inflatable Flamingoes in the harbour games and the week was rounded off with the prize-giving, and hog roast held in the relaxing grounds of Walhampton school, courtesy of the Headmaster Jonny Timms.

Save the date: RLymYC Youth Week 2022, 25th – 29th July.